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Natural Flea Control for Pets

Why should you use natural flea control for pets?

Natural Flea Control for Pets “Caution: Hazards to humans and domestic animals… Avoid contact with eyes, skin or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.”

We found this on the label of one of the first flea control products on a major pet store’s website. Avoid contact with domestic animals’ SKIN? WHAT? Isn’t that what the product is made for?

It gets worse. 

Survival of the fittest applies to fleas as it does to all other living things. Those fleas that survive the poison do so because they are resistant to it. Then they give birth to more fleas that are also resistant to it.  The poison also weakens your dog. Since fleas are attracted to weak pets, making your dog weaker with synthetic flea products only compounds the problem.Natural Flea Control for Pets

So what should you do?

If you do have a flea problem…

First, don’t feel badly. Natural flea control for pets is one of the most common inquiries we receive – welcome to the club!

Second, Natural Flea Control for Petskeep to the schedule – weekly, monthly, etc. as indicated - for the best (and least harmful) results 

Note that the home mixtures and product recommendations are NOT meant for puppies. Puppies can develop more severe problems related to fleas, so if your pet is less than 4 months old you should consult your vet immediately. When using any products, be sure to follow the directions closely.

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Fleas

If you are unsure if your dog has fleas:

  1. Look closely at the base of your dog's hair, especially around the neck, ears, legs and at the base of their tail. Fleas are small, black, quick-moving insects. Also look for flea dirt (flea droppings). 
  1. Place a damp paper towel on the floor and have your dog stand on top of it. Then comb your dog with a flea comb – if you see small specks of black that turn red with moisture (flea dirt), you know your dog has fleas.
In their November 2000 report, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recommended that the EPA ban the use of an entire class of flea and tick control products – those using organophosphates (OP). In the same report the NRDC endorses natural flea control for pets.

The seven OP’s are chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, malathion, naled, phosmet and tetrachlorvinphos.

Although not cited in the NRDC’s report, also stay away from borax, borates, desiccants and rotenone.

Click here for the report’s list of EPA registered pet products containing organophosphates insecticides (about 2/3 of the way down the page).


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Prevention: Natural Flea Control for Pets Starts Here

Natural remedies for flea control should always take precedence over chemical treatments. The easiest way to “stay natural” is to discourage fleas by keeping your dog healthy through:
  • Natural dog food diet
  • Regular grooming, bathing and exercise
  • Routine visits to your vet
Natural Flea Control for Pets Taylor Tips! I eat right, stay clean, exercise and get regular check-ups. Even with my shaggy hair, I've never had a single flea!

Let’s review how else you can prevent fleas for both indoor and outdoor pets…

Indoor Pets

On a weekly basis, you should thoroughly clean your dog and home.  For your dog, see our recommendation at the bottom of the page for the best flea and tick shampoo. Natural Flea Control for Pets Vacuum and clean the floors, especially where your dog sleeps. To kill any unseen developing fleas, wash your dog bed in soapy, hot water, rinse in cold water then dry on high heat. Adding 10 drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil to the wash will act as natural flea repellent.

You should also steam clean your carpets at the beginning of flea season (spring) or whenever you are starting your prevention efforts.  Also try a flea and tick room spray or fogger for more aggressive flea prevention.

Natural Flea Repellents

-Clary sage
-Eucalyptus
-Fennel
-Garlic
-Lavender
-Peppermint
-Rosemary
-Rue
-Wormwood
-Yeast
-Yellow Dock

Outdoor Pets

Follow the same advice for outdoor pets, in addition to keeping a weekly lawn care schedule: Mow your lawn to allow sunlight to reach heat and kill flea larvae and water your lawn to drown fleas.

Encourage ants (!), or at least don’t try to do away with them through pesticides as they serve as natural flea control for pets by eating the developing fleas. 

Finally, use an effective flea and tick yard spray to round out your outdoor flea control efforts.

There are also dog aromatherapy blends available for prevention and control.

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Mild to Moderate Flea Problem

If you already have a flea problem, try these tips first in addition to the "Prevention: Natural Flea Control for Pets Starts Here" recommendations above.

Natural Flea Control for PetsDaily (or at least twice per week)

Flea comb your dog at least twice per week, possibly daily, paying special attention to the head, neck, back and rear-end.

As fleas come off your dog and onto the comb, dip the comb in hot, soapy water then rinse in cool, clean water.

When done, pour soapy water down drain (not outside)

Next, search your dog's skin for any flea bites.  The skin in and around the area of a bite may have a small bump or appear red or swollen.  

If your dog has been bitten, first clean the effected area with a safe and natural solution.  Clenzor from Native Remedies works great.

Once the area is cleaned, observe your dog to find out if there is any discomfort around the bites.  Are they scratching or biting at the area?  If so, you can ease their discomfort with a natural cream such as FleaDerm.

Weekly

  • Take extra measures when vacuuming.

  • Since fleas are small enough to sometimes survive being vacuumed (tough little buggers), vacuum cleaner bags should be burned or frozen in an airtight bag before disposal.

  • Give your dog a bath with natural pet shampoo specially made using a natural flea control recipe.

Natural Flea Control for PetsMake sure that the shampoo you use is especially made for pets and contains only natural ingredients.

For added protection, you can add peppermint, lavender, clary sage or lemon to your dog shampoo if it does not already contain it.  The proper amount to add of each is 10 drops/100 ml.

  • Try using either a store-bought product or homemade natural flea control recipe such as the following:
Natural Flea Control Recipe
  1. Combine one part of as many of the following powdered herbs as possible:
    • Eucalyptus
    • Rosemary
    • Fennel
    • Yellow Dock
    • Wormwood
    • Rue
  2. Put mixture in shaker-top jar
  3. Apply the flea powder to your dog’s fur by brushing backwards and sprinkling it into the base of the hair (especially focus on the neck, back and belly).
  4. Immediately take your dog outside so the vacating fleas don’t wind up on your floor.
  5. Use this natural flea control recipe as frequently as necessary, up to many times per week for more serious infestations.
Note: Some herbal flea powders contain natural pyrethrins. While this is not a good flea killer, it is still a good natural flea control for pets as it does a great job warding them off.


Twice Per Year

  • Sprinkle unrefined, natural diatomaceous earth anywhere you cannot clean or the vacuum cannot reach. It is harmless to humans and pets, but it kills fleas by drying out their skin.
    • Do not use it directly on your pet. As with any fine powder, inhaling it can irritate the nasal passages.
    • Important note: Do NOT use the diatomaceous earth made for swimming pool filters.

Other Natural Remedies for Flea Control:

  • Add plenty of garlic and yeast (brewer’s or nutritional) to your dog’s diet
    • There are mixed reviews about how well this works, but those who support it feel that it works best with healthy dogs.
  • Apply a skin tonic created using a natural flea control for pets recipe.  You can either use the flea and tick mist recommended at the bottom of the page or create your own.  In addition to its use as a flea repellent, the renowned Juliette de Bairacli Levy recommends this lemon skin tonic for use as a treatment for mange and as a general skin toner:
Juliette de Bairacli Levy’s Lemon Skin Tonic
  1. Thinly slice a lemon along with the rind
  2. Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water, then let it steep overnight
  3. Sponge the solution onto your dog’s skin and let it dry
  4. Apply as frequently as daily

  • Natural flea control for pets made with limonene and other citrus extracts is okay for adult dogs but should NOT beNatural Flea Control for Pets used with puppies as it can be toxic, especially when combined with other flea products.
  • Repellent herbs
    • Lavender – sprinkle around bedding or use a lavender pillow
    • Plant fennel, sage or wormwood near the kennel
  • Essential Oil Flea Collars
    • They do not kill fleas; they only repel them. If a more severe infestation has occurred or if your dog has been diagnosed with flea allergy dermatitis, essential oil flea collars may not be effective.

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Major or Chronic Flea Problem

Natural remedies for flea control work well as a preventative measure and for mild to moderate flea problems. They are NOT effective if your dog is allergic to fleas or if you have a severe infestation.

In the case of a major or chronic flea problem, use the products listed in the next section below as any herbs or homemade recipes will be too weak to solve the problem.

Here are details about what is contained in some of the products along with some other ideas to consider:
  • Have your carpets treated annually with anti-flea mineral salt. This gets away from natural flea control for pets, so discuss the level of toxicity of individual products with the specific service provider that you use. Different salts can have different levels of toxicity.
  • Consider fogging your house with an insect growth regulator (IGR). Send your dog away on the same day to be cleaned to be sure that you get rid of any freeloaders.
    • Even though they are not natural, IGR’s are low chemical, safe and one of the most effective products out there. They work by preventing the flea from Natural Flea Control for Petsdeveloping into an adult.
  • The least toxic flea control insecticide is pyrethrum (several of the products at the bottom of this page use it) – sometimes called permethrin or pyrethrins (comes from the chrysanthemum flower).
    • For the best effect, use products labeled “slow-release” and use them at the same time as you are using the diatomaceous earth or other carpet treatment system.

  • Parasitic nematodes are small worms that eat flea larvae. Since fleas have a very limited range of mobility, these are especially good if fleas are coming from a small patch in the yard or garden.
  • Electric flea traps emit heat to attract fleas to sticky paper and are also effective for a small, localized flea problem.

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Best Natural Flea Control Treatments and Products

If you have a flea problem or are trying to avoid one, you need to combat the problem on three fronts: 

  1. Your dog
  2. Your home
  3. Your yard
1.  For your dog, first you need to figure out whether or not they have fleas.  Use a flea comb as instructed in the "how to tell if your dog has fleas" section above.

If your dog has been bitten, first clean the affected area with Clenzor.  If your dog is still scratching or biting, you can ease their discomfort by applying a natural cream called FleaDerm.

Whether your dog has fleas or not, also go with both the Flea & Tick Mist with IGR AND the SynergyLabs Flea & Tick Pet Shampoo as they are effective for extermination and prevention.  

The mist is water based, so it is great even for dogs with sensitive skin.  Use it when you think your dog will be in places where fleas and ticks are likely to be present.  Use the shampoo to protect your dog from future fleas and to kill them if they are already calling your dog home.

Flea Comb


Safari Double Sided Nylon Flea Comb - Beige - $ 0.45

Durable nylon flea combs are an item that every pet owner should have on hand. The periodic use of a flea comb is a good way to detect the presence of fleas on your dog or cat.

If fleas are detected, measures should be taken to eradicate them (see below natural flea control products). Flea combs are not a substitute for a routine flea treatment regimen, but can and should be used in conjunction and for special circumstances.

Flea Bite Cleaning and Soothing Cream

Clenzor - Natural cleanser for pet wounds, insect bites, skin conditions and infections - from $34.95

Clenzor cleans and soothes the skin and promotes the natural healing process.

Clenzor Benefits:
  • Clean and soothe your pet’s skin
  • Prevent skin infection by supporting the skin’s natural ability to heal
  • Encourage the natural immune response of the skin when injured

FleaDerm for Flea Bite Dermatitis - from $34.95

FleaDerm is a natural soothing cream to relieve common flea bites on dogs and cats.

FleaDerm Benefits:
  • Support skin health naturally
  • Reduce scratching
  • Soothe the skin surrounding common flea bites in pets

Flea & Tick Mist

Adams Plus Flea Tick Mist with IGR - 16oz Bottle - $9.56

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Mist with IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) provide an additional barrier to insect growth.

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Mist with IGR kills fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and mosquitoes for up to three months. Use on dogs, cats, pet bedding, carpets, and furniture. Safe for use on dogs over 6 months of age and cats over 7 months of age. DO NOT USE on cats less than 7 months or dogs less than 6 months old.

Flea & Tick Shampoo

SynergyLabs Flea and Tick Pet Shampoo - 17 oz - $6.99

SynergyLabs Flea and Tick Pet Shampoo has up to 3 times more active ingredients than competing brands and kills fleas and ticks on contact.

SynergyLabs Flea and Tick Pet Shampoo's pet friendly formula is safe for dogs, cats, puppies & kittens over 12 weeks old and is specially pH balanced and formulated to leave no sticky residue just a clean & shiny coat.

Contains Pyrethrum which is derived from flowers. Fresh scent will leave your pet smelling fresh & clean.

2.  For your home
, Virbac's Knockout formula will do the trick. It contains pyrethrins and permethrin, along with Insect Growth Regulator (IGR).  Use the area treatment if you only want to focus on a specific area of your home or yard, and use the fogger if you are trying to cover a larger area.

Specific Area Treatment

Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Area Treatment - 14 oz - $9.47

Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Area Treatment kills adult fleas and ticks and controls pre-adult fleas (larvae) for 120 days. Contains a unique combination of ingredients that kills both adult and pre-adult fleas before they bite. With Nylar (Pyriproxyfen) insect growth regulator, it continues to kill fleas for 120 days (4 months) by preventing their development into the adult biting stage.

Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Area Treatment is a one treatment spray that gives continuous flea protection for 120 days and reaches fleas hidden in carpets, rugs, drapes, upholstery, pet bedding, and floor cracks. Leaves no objectionable odor or sticky mess and, used as directed, does not stain furnishings.

Larger Area Treatment

Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Room Fogger - 6 oz - $7.49

Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Room Fogger kills adult and pre-adult fleas, including flea eggs for up to 7 months . With Nylar (Pyriproxyfen) insect growth regulator, Knockout continues to kill hatching fleas for 7 months by preventing their development into adults. The fogger reaches fleas (and other insects) hidden in carpets, rugs, drapes, upholstery, pet bedding, floor cracks and open cabinets.

Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Room Fogger also kills cockroaches, spiders, ants and ticks including deer ticks and other species that may carry or transmit Lyme Disease.

Contains Pyrethrins, Permethrin, and an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) which is an insect juvenile hormone that prevents the pre-adult flea from turning into an adult biting flea.


3.  For your yard, we recommend Adams Plus Flea & Tick Yard Spray.  It contains permethrin, which as mentioned above is the most effective non-toxic substance to get rid of fleas.

Adams Plus Flea Tick Yard Spray - 32oz Bottle - $ 14.29

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Yard Spray with Permethrin kills and repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, ants, crickets, and other insects on contact.

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Yard Spray with Permethrin comes as a concentrate in a 32 oz bottle that dilutes to 36 gallons of spray. For use around residential (home) areas only.

Apply with a hose-end sprayer to lawns, trees, shrubs, roses, and flowers. Adams Plus Flea and Tick Yard Spray with Permethrin can treat yards up to 5,000 square feet and will last up to 4 weeks.


See also Dog Skin Conditions and Disorders

Back to Health & Wellness from Natural Flea Control for Pets 


Natural Flea Control for Pets References

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